Ren followed Kaelen through the twisting streets of Verathane. The lanterns flickered along narrow alleys, casting long shadows that moved with the two of them. Kaelen's steps were deliberate and calm, but every movement carried awareness of the city around them, of its hidden currents and shifting eyes.
"You have learned to move unnoticed," Kaelen said quietly. "That skill will keep you alive longer than any blade. Yet observation alone will not be enough. This city and the land beyond it demand more. You will need endurance, timing, and the courage to act before the danger is obvious."
Ren nodded. He had felt the pulse of the city, the rhythm of its hidden rules, but Kaelen's words made it clear there were deeper layers still, ones that could not be sensed, only learned.
